PESHAWAR: Chief of Pakistani Taliban’s Mohmand Agency chapter Umar Khalid Khurasani Tuesday vowed to abide by the ceasefire negotiated between the government and Taliban despite the outfit’s claim of killing 23 FC soldiers last month.
Peace talks between the two sides to end years of insurgency by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had reached a deadlock after the killing of the soldiers.
In a written statement to the media, Khurasani said the outfit did not have any plan to attack former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf or anyone else for that instance.
Mohmand Taliban’s chief, who in a chilling admission in February claimed the killing of the kidnapped Pakistani paramilitary soldiers, said the militant outfit was obeying ceasefire as negotiated by the central leadership of the TTP.
He said security and intelligence agencies were misguiding people. “We abide by ceasefire and have no plan to attack Musharraf or anyone else,” said Khurasani.
Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, in a letter sent to the officials earlier on Monday said that Taliban and al Qaeda terrorists have planned an assassination attempt on former president Musharraf.
The former military strongman is currently facing high treason charges in a special tribunal for conspiring against the Constitution of Pakistan by imposing emergency and overthrowing the superior judiciary in November 2007.
The 70-year-old former army chief is the first military dictator in Pakistan's history to face a trial for treason. His lawyers, who cited security threats for Musharraf’s absence from the court, contend that the treason charge levied against him is politically motivated.
– with additional reporting by Zahir Shah Sherazi